Be Strong

1. One of a Kind - Tony Curtis,

2. Stress Free

3. False Promise

4. Dog World

5. Everlasting Love

6. Stand by You Forever

7. Be Strong

8. Hustling - Anthony B.,

9. Praise Him (Interlude)

10. Broken Heart

11. Never Like This Before

12. Stop the Rain

13. Increase the Peace

14. No More for Me

15. Little Love

Be Strong,Lukie D,Penitentiary,Dancehall,Hip-Hop,Pop,Reggae

Average customer rating: Inspirational! hymns we sang in church

Abide With Me Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gibbons, Orlando | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Monk, William Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tallis | Tallis, Thomas | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vaughan Williams, Ralph | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vaughan Williams, Ralph | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Hymns Through the Centuries Hymns Triumphant 1 & 2 Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral Be Still My Soul: The Ultimate Hymns Collection The Music of St. Paul's Cathedral ASIN: B000024236 Release Date: 1996-06-10

Tracks:

1. Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
2. Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
3. All Glory, Laud and Honour - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
4. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
5. Day of Resurrection - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
6. O God, Our Help in Ages Past - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
7. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
8. Praise to the Holiest in the Height - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
9. Praise to the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
10. Church's One Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
11. Crown Him With Many Crowns - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
12. Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
13. Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
14. Now Thank We All Our God - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
15. Abide with Me - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
16. O Praise Ye the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
17. Drop, Drop, Slow Tears - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
18. Glory Be to Jesus - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
19. There Is a Green Hill Far Away - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
20. According to Thy Gracious Word - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
21. Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
22. Glory to Thee, My God, This Night - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
23. Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
24. Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
25. On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks

Tracks:

1. Onward, Christian Soldiers - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
2. Lord's My Shepherd - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
3. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
4. All People That on Earth Do Dwell - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
5. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
6. Forty Days and Forty Nights - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
7. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
8. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
9. Head That Once Was Crown'd With Thorns - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
10. Rock of Ages - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
11. Eternal Father, Strong to Save - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
12. All Things Bright and Beautiful - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
13. Be Thou My Vision - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
14. Be Still, My Soul - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
15. King of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
16. Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
17. For All the Saints - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
18. O Worship the King - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
19. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Choir of King's College, George Guest
20. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Choir of King's College, George Guest
21. Spirit of Mercy, Truth, And Love - Choir of King's College, George Guest
22. Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us - Choir of King's College, George Guest
23. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise - Choir of King's College, George Guest
24. Jesu, Lover of My Soul - Choir of King's College, George Guest
25. Jerusalem - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Choir of King's College, ,

Album Details

Compiled Here Are Fifty of the Most Beloved Hymns Performed by Three of England's Most Distinguished Choirs. Every Selection Here is Sung in an Appropriately Dignified Manner and If You're Up for Over Two Hours of Consistently Well-rendered Quintessentially English Treatments of These Vernacular Favorites it Simply Doesn't Get Any Better Than This.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational!.......2004-10-08

Majestic hymns sung with British accents. A great combination! I haven't noticed any objectionable sounds on my copy.

hymns we sang in church.......2003-02-16

i grew up in a traditional presbyterian church that had a pipe organ. i wanted a cd of many of the hymns that we sang in church sung by a choir and accompanied by a pipe organ. this cd fulfilled my wishes perfectly. the hymns are performed in a very straight-forward fashion with no show-boating or excess flourishes which is exactly what i wanted. this is not gospel music but what i refer to as liturgical music to indicate that it is religious music but not gospel music. i would give it 5 stars but there is a slight hiss. other than that the recording quality is very good.

Average customer rating: By Appointment of Her Majesty Music from the Queens Coronation Magnificent!! One of the Greatest Ceremonies the World's Seen Grand and Glorious

Music from the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Samuel Sebastian Wesley , Ralph Vaughan Williams , Charles Villiers Stanford , William Walton , Martin Neary , Martin Baker , Andrew Crowley , Roger Cleverdon , Andrew Giles , Leigh Nixon , London Brass , Mark Bennett , Thomas Sneddon , Christopher Tipping , and Lawrence Wallington Manufacturer: Griffin (Qualiton) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Howells, Herbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vaughan Williams, Ralph | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Walton | Walton, Sir William | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vaughan Williams, Ralph | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rule Britannia and Other Music from Last Night of the Proms Rule Britannia Royal Salute Royal Golden Jubilee: Music of 50 Royal Years Handel: Coronation Anthems, etc ASIN: B00004U0S8 Release Date: 2000-06-28

Customer Reviews:

By Appointment of Her Majesty.......2007-05-12

I heartily recommend the purchase of this exalted collection of music from the Elizabethan coronation ceremonies of 1953. The music represents an outstanding selection of the music of English christendom at the mid-20th Century. The performance quality of a variety of ensembles are commensurate with the quality of the selections themselves.

Music from the Queens Coronation.......2005-08-21

If one word was allowed it would be MAGNIFICANT.
I have listened to the whole disc several times now and am still thrilled by the music

Magnificent!!.......2002-04-01

I purchased this CD at the Tower of London gift shop while on a trip to England a few years ago. This album is superb, with beautiful digital re-recordings of the music from Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. I have listened to it countless times. This wonderful music reminds me of the great heritage we in America share with Great Britain. Breathtaking, inspiring and uplifting, this album will not disappoint.

One of the Greatest Ceremonies the World's Seen.......2002-01-14

The Coronation of HM Elizabeth II in June 1953 was one of the most spectacular public events the world has seen before or since. At the Queen's request, the Coronation was televised live on the BBC, the first coronation to receive such treatment. This is not a recording of the actual Coronation Service itself, but rather a recording, made in Westminster Abbey, of the actual music (with much of the same arrangements) that was used at the Coronation.

You will not be disappointed with this album!

Grand and Glorious.......2001-08-15

This CD contains some of the most beautiful music ever written. The music performed at Queen Elizabeth's 1953 coronation was recorded in 1993 and released on CD. If you like high church music and you have an appreciation for what was probably one of the most spectacular public pageants of the 20th Century, you will love this CD.

Average customer rating: Great CD

Amazing Grace: The Songs Of The Reagan Memorial Manufacturer: Martingale ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Monk, William Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music Similar Items: Chariots of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) More Than 50 Most Loved Hymns James Taylor at Christmas Wintersong Love ASIN: B000679MWO Release Date: 2006-07-25

Tracks:

1. Amazing Grace - United States Air Force Band
2. America the Beautiful - United States Army Band
3. God Bless America - United States Marine Band
4. Battle Hymn of the Republic - United States Air Force Band
5. Be Still, My Soul
6. Jerusalem - Eric Wyse
7. Faire Is the Heaven
8. Ave Maria
9. Going Home - United States Air Force Band
10. Navy Hymn (Eternal Father) - United States Marine Band
11. National Hymn (God of Our Fathers) - United States Marine Band
12. Abide with Me - Eric Wyse
13. Nearer, My God, To Thee - United States Air Force Band
14. Amazing Grace
15. Taps - United States Marine Band

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-03-19

Great CD - Even if you are not ex military you will enjoy it.

Average customer rating: A complete collection

I'm Gonna Be Strong: The Hits and More Gene Pitney Manufacturer: Goldies ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Teen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Gene Pitney - 25 All-Time Greatest Hits Love Grows 24 Hours from Tulsa: The Very Best of Gene Pitney Sings Great Ballads Looking Through: The Ultimate Collection ASIN: B00005RVT8 Release Date: 2006-04-17

Tracks:

1. (I Wanna) Love My Life Away
2. Town Without Pity
3. Only Love Can Break a Heart
4. If I Didn't Have a Dime (To Play the Jukebox)
5. Twenty-Four Hours from Tulsa
6. That Girl Belongs to Yesterday
7. I'm Gonna Be Strong
8. I Must Be Seeing Things
9. I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night - George Jones, Gene Pitney
10. Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart
11. Hello Mary Lou
12. Somewhere in the Country
13. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
14. Unchained Melody

Tracks:

1. Every Breath I Take
2. (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance
3. Half Heaven, Half Heartache
4. Mecca
5. It Hurts to Be in Love
6. Last Chance to Turn Around
7. Looking Through the Eyes of Love
8. Princess in Rags
9. Backstage (I'm Lonely)
10. Just One Smile
11. She's a Heartbreaker
12. Nobody Needs Your Love (More Than I Do)
13. Maria Elena (I'm Going to War)
14. Shady Lady

Tracks:

1. True Love Never Runs Smooth
2. Yesterday's Hero
3. Billy You're My Friend
4. Yours Until Tomorrow
5. She Let's Her Hair Down (Early in the Morning)
6. Street Called Hope
7. My Prayer
8. Great Pretender
9. Donna Means Heartbreak
10. Fool Killer
11. Little Betty Falling Star
12. Summertime Dreaming
13. There's No Living Without Your Loving
14. Louisiana Mama

Album Description

Full title, 'I'm Gonna Be Strong The Hits & More'. Import only three-disc compilation for the late 60's pop idol. Tracks include 'Only Love Can Break A Heart', 'Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa', 'Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart', 'It Hurts To Be In Love', 'Your Until Tomorrow', 'Nobody Needs Your Love' & many others. 42 tracks. Three standard jewel cases with individual artwork, housed in a slipcase. Goldies Records.

Customer Reviews:

A complete collection.......2007-01-10

I own two other Gene Pitney CD's and neither one has all the hits this set has. There are three CD's and they cover all of his greatest hits, plus many others. All the songs are original recordings. I have never seen this set in stores, so it is quite a find. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this collection. It is a great deal for the price of so many good songs!

Average customer rating: Goodall's Siegfried "Do you know what Wotan wills?" Slow and steady wins the race Absolutely better than you think, the best of Goodal's Ring! Better than you might think....

Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) English National Opera Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) Wagner: The Rhinegold Wagner: The Valkyrie Wagner: Siegfried Wagner: Die Walküre ASIN: B000056KNC Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

1. Act I.: Prld - Barry Tuckwell
2. Act I., Scene 1: Wearisome Labour! - Gregory Dempsey
3. Act I., Scene 1: Hoiho! Hoiho! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
4. Act I., Scene 1: Well, There Are The Pieces - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
5. Act I., Scene 1: A Whimpering Babe - Gregory Dempsey
6. Act I., Scene 1: Much You've Taught To Me, Mime - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
7. Act I., Scene 1: I Found Once in The Wood - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios
8. Act I., Scene 1: And Now These Fragments - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
9. Act I., Scene 1: He Storms Away! - Gregory Dempsey
10. Act I., Scene 2: Hail There, Worthy Smith! - Norman Bailey/Gregory Dempsey
11. Act I., Scene 2: I Sit By Your Hearth - Norman Bailey/Gregory Dempsey
12. Act I., Scene 2: What You Needed To Know - Norman Bailey/Gregory Dempsey
13. Act I., Scene 2: The Fragments! The Sword! - Gregory Dempsey/Norman Bailey

Tracks:

1. Act I., Scene 3: Accursed Light! - Gregory Dempsey
2. Act I., Scene 3: Hey There! You Idler! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
3. Act I., Scene 3: Have You Not Felt Within The Woods - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios
4. Act I., Scene 3: Give Me These Pieces - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
5. Act I., Scene 3: Notung! Notung! Sword Of My Need! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
6. Act I., Scene 3: Hoho! Hoho! Hohi! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
7. Act II.: Prld - Barry Tuckwell
8. Act II., Scene 1: In Gloomy Night By Fafner's Cave I Wait - Derek Hammond-Stroud
9. Act II., Scene 1: To Neidhohl By Night I Have Come - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud
10. Act II., Scene 1: Not My Plan! - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud
11. Act II., Scene 1: Fafner! Fafner! You Dragon, Wake! - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud/Clifford Grant
12. Act II., Scene 1: Now, Alberich! That Plan Failed! - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud
13. Act II., Scene 2: We Go No Further! - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios
14. Act II., Scene 2: So He's No Father Of Mine - Alberto Remedios

Tracks:

1. Act II., Scene 2: Could I But Know - Alberto Remedios
2. Act II., Scene 2: See My Mother - Alberto Remedios
3. Act II., Scene 2: Ha Ha! At Last With My Call - Alberto Remedios/Clifford Grant
4. Act II., Scene 2: Who Are You, Youthful Hero - Clifford Grant/Alberto Remedios
5. Act II., Scene 2: The Dead Can Tell No Tidings - Alberto Remedios/Maurine London
6. Act II., Scene 3: Hehe! Sly And Slippery Knave - Derek Hammond-Stroud/Gregory Dempsey
7. Act II., Scene 3: Tarnhelm And Ring, Here They Are - Alberto Remedios/Maurine London/Gregory Dempsey
8. Act II., Scene 3: Be Welcome, Siegfried! - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios/Derek Hammond-Stroud
9. Act II., Scene 3: You Lie There Too, Mighty Dragon - Alberto Remedios/Maurine London
10. Act III.: Prld - Barry Tuckwell
11. Act III., Scene 1: Waken, Wala! Wala! Awake! - Norman Bailey
12. Act III., Scene 1: Strong Is Your Call - Anne Collins/Norman Bailey
13. Act III., Scene 1: You Unwise One, Learn What I Will - Norman Bailey
14. Act III., Scene 2: I See That Siegfried's Near - Norman Bailey

Tracks:

1. Act III., Scene 2: My Woodbird Fluttered Away - Alberto Remedios
2. Act III., Scene 2: Young Man, Hear Me - Norman Bailey/Alberto Remedios
3. Act III., Scene 2: Child, If You Knew Who I Am - Norman Bailey/Alberto Remedios
4. Act III., Scene 2: With His Spear in Splinters - Alberto Remedios
5. Act III., Scene 3: Here in The Sunlight - Alberto Remedios
6. Act III., Scene 3: Come, My Sword! - Alberto Remedios
7. Act III., Scene 3: Hail, Bright Sunlight! - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
8. Act III., Scene 3: Siegfried! Siegfried! Glorious Hero! - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
9. Act III., Scene 3: And There Is Grane, My Sacred Horse - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
10. Act III., Scene 3: Oh! I Cared Always - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios

Customer Reviews:

Goodall's Siegfried.......2007-06-22

This is completely worth it. Other reviews aptly pointed out everything good, and this *is* good--brilliant. Alberto Remedios is the best Siegfried I've ever heard, and Rita Hunter is a stunning and convincing Brunnhilde. If I could give this more than five stars, I would.

"Do you know what Wotan wills?".......2007-06-12

Okay, so we have the Solti, Bohm, Karajan, Goodall, Boulez, Janowski, Levine, Haitink, and Sawallisch Rings on the market (I haven't listened to the other Ring recordings yet, sorry to say). And all of these leave me to one conclusion: the many differences lead me to believe that all of these ring sets have their own authenticities and setbacks. And here they are:

TIMING (Estimate):
Solti's Ring: 14 hours, 30 minutes
Bohm's Ring: 13 hours, 30 minutes
Karajan's Ring: 14 hours, 50 minutes
Goodall's Ring: 16 hours, 50 minutes
Boulez's Ring: 13 hours, 40 minutes
Janowski's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes
Levine's Ring: 15 hours, 20 minutes
Haitink's Ring: 14 hours, 10 minutes
Sawallisch's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes

CONDUCTING:
Solti: Solti's conducting is driven with sheer muscle, but sometimes he makes the Ring overemotional. His Walkure & Gotterdammerung Preludes are clear examples: they're annoyingly bombastic. Nonetheless he almost seldom loses control with anything. His clear focus on the drama is astonishing.

Bohm: I must say his live Bayreuth recording brings out some of the best. He puts more faith in the orchestral score, but he also gives it more intensity. His tempi are some of the quickest, but they still don't seem rushed at all (except maybe "Wohin schleich'st du eilig und schlau"). I especially like his "Forging Scene" & "Hagen Summons the Vassals"; both are the most energetic on disc.

Karajan: Karajan's chamber approach is very interesting. Instead of going for the drama or the energy, the conductor goes for the beauty. Almost everything in his Ring sounds very ethereal because of his excessive use of lyricism. His orchestral preludes (except Walkure Act 1) sound more beautiful than others, and much of the soft parts (such as Siegfried Act Three Scene Three) are controlled nicely. His "Funeral March" and "Immolation" are recommendable. Siegfried Act Three Scene Two could have improved with more tension.

Goodall: Oh, boy. While I do praise Goodall with his amazing attention to detail, his ridiculously sluggish tempi will tick some Wagnerites off: nothing is faster than andante. But I did enjoy listening to the slow beauty of his "Wotan's Farewell/Magic Fire Music". This was recorded live and sung in English.

Boulez: Here it is, folks - the controversial Centennial Ring. To fit the Ring Cycle in the industrial age, Boulez gives it a very Schoenbergian, Bartokian atmosphere. Much of his tempi are very quick, very Bohm-like, though they're still not as fast as Bohm. Keep in mind, though, this live Ring works only if you hear AND see it (the DVD's work best).

Janowski: This is a very classical Ring. Instead of bombast, spacious, or lyrical passion, maestro Janowski gives us the straightforward approach. He goes straight for Wagner's original intentions (precise tempi, dynamics, flow of leitmotivs, etc.), which makes this another exquisite Ring. "Hagen Summons the Vassals" is probably the fastest I've ever heard (along with Sawallisch's). Rheingold Scene Four can be best described as "sensational".

Levine: While he does stay true to the score like Bohm, this conductor makes for a somewhat dull Ring. His handling of the orchestra is nice, but the moderately slow tempi he chooses is flawed. It should be more animated. His beautiful "Funeral March" and "Erda's Warning" are two of the few flawless features.

Haitink: This might be seen as a disappointment. If you want great conducting, then this is for you. If you want a persuasive array of singers, look somewhere else. Haitink's conducting saves this work from being a total flop. There is nothing quite like his Rheingold & Gotterdammerung ("Siegfried's Rhine Journey" is a bit forced, but magnificent nonetheless).

Sawallisch: I guess you can say that Sawallisch is half-Karajan, half-Janowski. While he does stay true to the orchestral score like Janowski, he also puts in a little Karajan-like lyricism. At some points he loses track with orchestra and singers (as does every live recording) but Bohm has more control. This was also recorded live.

ORCHESTRA:
Solti's Vienna Philharmonic: The woodwinds are the most beautiful in Solti's Ring (the "Forest Murmurs" is clear evidence of that). French horns and Wagner tubas make this a recommended listening. The strings in "Heda Heda Hedo" could've added a bit more work, but they are strikingly spectacular everywhere else. The orchestra gives it their all in Siegfried Act Two & Three, but they are at their weakest in Walkure Act One & Three (Bohm's Bayreuth does it better). Overall, it's the loudest and certainly most bombastic out of all the Ring orchestras combined.

Bohm's Bayreuth Festival: The ultimate Wagnerian orchestra gives it their all. The brass both high and low are the most powerful, while the woodwinds are the most delicate. The strings are muffled only a few times, otherwise the eighteen anvils are perfectly loud and clear. Erda's scenes aren't as effective as Janowski's, but the entire Walkure is more successful than Janowski's when it comes to tone & technique. Overall, this orchestra is the most dramatic.

Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic: The entire orchestra sounds polished, not to say that it is bad. Indeed the drama is still there, but much of the suspense is lacking (the scenes with Fasolt and Fafner come to mind). The brass sometimes overpowers the strings, which can be a serious problem. Gotterdammerung "Three Norns" Scene sounds very mysterious, very eerie.

Goodall's English National Opera: This orchestra sounds nice, even if the sluggishness can bring them down at times. The Flight of the Valkyries doesn't sound too good in a slow tempo, but the entire orchestra does sound lucid here. Siegfried Act Two Prelude is the creepiest. All of the leitmotivs are heard loud and clear, just like in Janowski's version.

Boulez's Bayreuth Festival: While it doesn't really pack the same punches as Bohm's Bayreuth, it still delivers a stunning performance. Orchestral interaction between characters (Ex. Siegfried's motifs mixed in with Mime's motifs) fares better than Berlin's and English National's. Rhine maiden motifs are given more wit, while the Dragon motifs are played with less eeriness. Beauty makes up for the irritatingly quick "Wotan's Farewell".

Janowski's Staatskapelle Dresden: This orchestra has the same force & flair as does Boulez's Bayreuth Festival, only Dresden sounds much clearer due to the fantastic digital sound. Even minor details are heard clear in this Ring. The strings imitate the Siegfried forest very well, while the woodwinds representing the songbird are wonderful (but not as wonderful as Solti's songbird). Dresden's "Magic Fire Music" (along with Berlin's) is the most extravagant.

Levine's Metropolitan Opera: The brass and woodwinds are the true stars. The strings sound too tired to continue on in Siegfried & Gotterdammerung. The Finale to Rheingold is absolutely stunning (the trumpets and trombones will not disappoint), and the Second Act of Walkure is the most impressive, the most refined.

Haitink's Bavarian Radio Symphony: This may very well be like Metropolitan, only this sounds much more poignant. The strings sound better and the percussion sound clearer. The leitmotivs are almost never screwed up. First scene of Rheingold will take one's breath away.

Sawallisch's Bavarian State: Wrong notes in this live recording won't matter, as the entire orchestra gets everything going in all four nights at the opera. The strings never surrender to imperfection, and the winds are marvelously aligned. I just wish that some of the singers would keep up with the orchestra.

SINGERS:
-Wotan
Solti: Hans Hotter is the superior Wotan. He sounds powerful throughout the Ring (except Rheingold, in which a less stellar George London performs).

Bohm and Janowski: Theo Adam in Bohm's live recording is another treat. While he is not as equally impressive as Hotter, he can certainly conjure up everlasting emotions. Adam sounds weaker in Janowski's studio recording, but he still doesn't disappoint.

Karajan: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau plays Wotan in "Rheingold," while Thomas Stewart replaces Fischer-Dieskau in "Walkure" and "Siegfried". I don't think Fischer-Dieskau was a good choice; he sounds too humane and too light. Stewart makes an astounding improvement in both "Walkure" and "Siegfried".

Goodall: Norman Bailey has that divine spark that Hotter used to cherish. He's heavy and unblemished, and he handles the English text with flair and sheen.

Boulez: If you watch Donald McIntyre on the Centennial Ring production, then you can tell that he's a fine "industrial" Wotan. If you just hear him on CD, then you'll be disappointed. His diction is weak, his emotions are forced, and his voice sounds robotic. The DVD's will do.

Levine and Haitink: James Morris is a notch below Hotter, Adam, and Bailey, but he overpowers Fischer-Dieskau pretty much throughout the Levine's and Haitink's Ring.

Sawallisch: I may be biased, but Robert Hale just didn't do it for me. He sounded dull and tedious, and his Wotan's Farewell wasn't enough to sadden me.

-Brunnhilde
Solti and Bohm: Birgit Nilsson is the best Brunnhilde on the market. Her Valkyrie cry is delightful, and her final scene in Gotterdammerung is brilliant beyond belief.

Karajan: Regine Crespin is without a doubt one of the finest Brunnhildes after Nilsson. She's fantastic in Walkure Act Three. I just wish she stayed on as the Valkyrie later on in the Ring (Helga Dernesch is no good in Gotterdammerung, sorry to say).

Goodall: Rita Hunter is at her strongest in Walkure and Siegfried. She is at her weakest in Gotterdammerung. What may have caused her downfall in the fourth installment? "The world may never know."

Boulez: How can anyone not be impressed by the Brunnhilde of Gwyneth Jones? One can almost feel her excitement during Siegfried Act Three, and her fear in Walkure Act Three. Her weakest point is probably during her Gotterdammerung Prologue (a bit too stressed).

Janowski: Jeannine Altmeyer is basically the most controversial Brunnhilde on CD. Some people say that she's too light and weak, while others say she sounds young and very enchanting. I'm with those who think Altmeyer was a good choice, but you yourself (the shopper) are going to have to decide whether she's good or not.

Levine and Sawallisch: Hildegard Behrens is just like Nilsson and Crespin: while she's not the best, she is definitely another perfect Brunnhilde of choice. She's at her most dazzling when she performs Walkure (Levine) and Siegfried (Sawallisch).

Haitink: Hmph. I was hoping that Eva Marton would do well here. I was seriously let down by her strained singing. She does okay in "Annunciation of Death", but she is at her worst in "Immolation".

-Siegmund & Sieglinde
Let's see. For the Siegmunds, we have James King for Solti and Bohm, Jon Vickers for Karajan, Alberto Remedios for Goodall, Peter Hoffman for Boulez, Siegfried Jerusalem for Janowski, Gary Lakes for Levine, Reiner Goldberg for Haitink, and Robert Schunk for Sawallisch. For the Sieglindes, we have Regine Crespin for Solti, Leonie Rysanek for Bohm, Gundula Janowitz for Karajan, Margaret Curphy for Goodall, Jeanine Altmeyer for Boulez, Jessye Norman for both Janowski and Levine, Cheryl Studer for Haitink, and Julia Varady for Sawallisch. Hmm . . . Jerusalem is good . . . and so is Vickers . . . Janowitz is charming, and so is . . . Oh, what the heck? All the singers for Siegmund and Sieglinde are fantastic. Three exceptions, though: Goldberg and Schunk don't sound heroic enough, and Norman for Levine doesn't sound young and innocent enough.

-Siegfried
Solti and Bohm: Wolfgang Windgassen may very well be the best Siegfried for the ages. His `Forging Scene" in both renditions are defiantly inspiring. His last scene in Gotterdammerung is celestial and overwhelming.

Karajan: Jess Thomas (Siegfried) and Helge Brilioth (Gotterdammerung) may not be as ideal as Windgassen, but they do know how to be a magnificent heldentenor. Thomas pulls it off with Act One and Three.

Goodall: Wow! What a singer that Alberto Remedios! He never drags in either of the last two installments, and he uses the correct emotions in every scene that he is in.

Boulez: Is Manfred Jung a good tenor? Yes. Is he a good Heldentenor? NO. He doesn't have that heroic voice like Windgassen and Remedios. Again, the DVD's are your safest bet.

Janowski and Sawallisch: Rene Kollo's Siegfried is a poetically expressive one. In Janowski's version he sounds playful when he's in Mime's home, and he sounds willed when he's in the Gibich Hall. He is not good enough in Sawallisch's version, however. His tiresome "Forging Scene" is obvious evidence of that.

Levine: Oh, Reiner Goldberg. At least you tried. Seriously, he sounds too tedious (especially in Gotterdammerung Act Three Scene Two) and too old. Levine should've chose Kollo or Jerusalem when he recorded his studio Ring.

Haitink: Have you ever seen Siegfried Jerusalem on the Levine/Metropolitan DVD? Well, here he is again, and this time, he sings with more valor and enthusiasm. Bravo!

-Alberich
Solti and Bohm: Gustav Niedlinger has a heaviness that overwhelms a few other baritones. When he sings his only sequence in Gotterdammerung Act Two Scene One, his emotion is so pure that his son Hagen would've drowned himself in tears (Too melodramatic? Sorry about that.). The only problem is that his character sounds too one-dimensional. Alberich isn't just some cardboard-cutout bad guy. He has a very good reason why he wants to take revenge on the world. Overall, Niedlinger is amazing throughout Wagner's Ring (He deserves many awards for "Bin ich nun frei?").

Karajan: I guess you can say that Zoltan Kelemen tries his best throughout. He is not good in Rheingold, but he gets better in Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.

Goodall: Derek Hammond-Stroud is three-dimensional, but not that much. Still, he can sound very demanding in Rheingold Scene One and Siegfried Act Two Scene One.

Boulez: What we have here is the weak Alberich of Hermann Becht. When he's in Nibelheim, the authority isn't there. When he's in the Neid-Hohle forest, the creepiness isn't there. And when he's near the Gibich house, the misery isn't there. Even on DVD he's unsatisfactory.

Janowski: Siegmund Nimsgern may be the most humane Alberich yet, but it's all good. He sings with more passion than Kelemen and more robustness than Hammond-Stroud. Niedlinger's ferociousness puts him below, however. "Schaf'st du, Hagen, mein sohn?" is noteworthy.

Levine and Sawallisch: Ekkehard Wlaschiha is one hell of a vigorous Alberich. I praise him in Rheingold Scene One and Three. His performance in Siegfried (both versions) could've improved with more distrustfulness towards Mime and the Wanderer.

Haitink: No offense, but Theo Adam as Alberich? Come on . . .

-Mime
Solti and Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is the creepiest Mime ever known to humankind. This dwarf outsings other Mimes on the market. When he sings "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" his anger and fear is the most effective to almost all Ring listeners.

Bohm: Erwin Wohlfahrt wins second place. He gives a first-rate performance in Siegfried Act One, but loses some of his edge in Act Two. He is an exceptional Mime nonetheless. Look for him in Karajan's Rheingold, also.

Goodall: Gregory Dempsey isn't emotional enough. He doesn't sound fearful or depressed at all, which makes him the dullest Mime for the Ring.

Boulez and Levine: Heinz Zednik is yet another excellent Mime, VERY fun to listen to. There is much humor and eccentricity in his voice, and that's what makes his dwarf much more compelling than Dempsey's dwarf. His performance in Rheingold Scene Three is pure gold, while his performance in Siegfried (particularly "Willkommen, Siegfried!") is a stunning achievement.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is for Siegfried, while Christian Vogel is for Rheingold. Vogel is less than perfect, while Schreier is way beyond outstanding. Schreier is less ghoulish and more benevolent, more three-dimensional than Stolze and Wohlfahrt. He is equal to Zednik when it comes to humaneness and lyricism. The only flaw I can find is his handling of "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" He could've added a bit more fear in that sequence.

Haitink: Peter Haage sounds like he's entertaining young kids. His version of Mime is a bit childish, and the dark humor that the dwarf brings out sounds-over-the-top here. Nonetheless, he is still entertaining to listen to ("Wer halfe mir?" has never sounded better).

Sawallisch: Helmut Pampuch is just like Schreier and Zednik: he's very VERY good. Nuff said.

-Loge
Solti: Set Svanholm may be the weakest Loge. He is not very ominous throughout all of his scenes, and his lack of a sinister atmosphere is greatly affects the entire Rheingold. But he'll soon be forgotten later on during the Trilogy.

Bohm: Why the heck would the conductor have Wolfgang Windgassen play both Siegfried AND Loge? The demi-god needs to sound different from a son of a Walsung. Again, another Loge that's marred by lack of cunning.

Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is easily the most entertaining Loge to listen to. He has the wit, the craftiness, and the untrustworthiness that the character deserves. His scenes in Scene Three are delightful.

Goodall: Emile Belcourt isn't as good as Stolze, but he certainly can make some of the best of an English-speaking Loge.

Boulez and Haitink: I can summon Heinz Zednik's performance in just three words: Brilliant Beyond Belief!

Janowski: Peter Schreier is the most eccentric out of all of them, and that's a fact. Much of his singing involves imagination, peril, vengeance, and deviousness. Belcourt and Zednik depend only on vengeance and deviousness, Stolze only imagination and deviousness, Windgassen and Svanholm only peril. His odd conversations with Alberich and the gods/goddesses are classic.

Levine: Siegfried Jerusalem doesn't seem like a good choice for Loge. He's better off playing Siegmund or Siegfried, but not a demi-god.

Sawallisch: Robert Tear is on par with Stolze and Zednik. Sometimes he takes things too low, but all is forgiven with his management of character development.

-Everyone Else
Uh-huh, what can I say? Everyone else does a good job in all Ring recordings. Matti Salminen is the perfect Hagen (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch), while Kirsten Flagstad is the most brilliant Fricka (Solti). Anja Silja is the most memorable Freia (Bohm), while Kurt Moll makes the most fabulous Hunding yet (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch). The Norns and Rheinmaidens do a splendid job in Solti, Janowski, and Levine. The Vassals (male choir) are at their unsurpassed in Bohm, Goodall, and Boulez. The only flawed Erda is Anne Collins (Goodall), maybe too light and too heavy at times. All in all, no one here is graded C or lower.

CONCLUSION: I have yet to listen to Barenboim's Bayreuth presentation, Neuhold's Badische version, and the essential mono recordings (Furtwangler, Krauss, etc.), but I'm pretty sure that have their advantages and disadvantages. So there you have it. We have the histrionic Solti, the energetic Bohm, the otherworldly Karajan, the spacious Goodall, the industrialized Boulez, the truthful Janowski, the unhurried Levine, the abnormal Haitink, and the serious Sawallisch Rings. They have their own authenticities and setbacks, and they certainly have their own significances for Ring listeners everywhere.

The Box Set: Wagner: The Ring Cycle (Box Set)
-The Rhinegold (Part 1): Wagner: The Rhinegold
-The Valkyrie (Part 2): Wagner: The Valkyrie
-Twilight of the Gods (Part 4): The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)

Slow and steady wins the race.......2007-02-07

Yes, we all know that Reginal Goodall's Wagner is VERY deliberate (read slow) at times. When I heard the late Rita Hunter singing in Sydney in the 80s, I asked her about working with Maestro Goodall, she said he was one of the most thorough and demanding conductor's you could wish to work with.

For me, this whole cycle is desert island material because the English translation is just superb. Fine singing and marvellous playing from the ENO orchestra.

Absolutely better than you think, the best of Goodal's Ring!.......2005-05-03

As good as his die Walkure is, Goodall's Siegfried is even better. For me this is the most difficult opera of the entire Ring and Goodall pulls it off with honors indeed. Remedios is a wonder! Wish we had had him in the Met Ring Cycles of the past decade. Hunter again is a wonder with beauty and strength of tone. Once more I enjoy Bailey. I found That Alan Blyth in Gramophone 5/01 and I seem to appreciate him. It would seem that Goodall gives this opera all the wonderful performance it needs. Not an easy show to pull off. This recording absolutely belongs in any Wagnerian's collection. Had I been at this live performance, I definitely would not have fallen asleep and would have regretted its coming to its inevitable end. And the orchestra rises to the occasion splendidly. From Siegfried's climb to Brunhilde's rock until the end of the duet, the orchestral playing is rich, very moving bordering on the monumental just because it is live and thus more of a risk than a studio recording. Hunter is nothing short of stunning. The duet alone makes the recording a must have. Too bad artists are not fully appreciated until we no longer have them around to enjoy. Thank God this is on CD to be enjoyed at the listener's command.

Better than you might think...........2002-03-17

I had to think more than twice before purchasing this recording, especially since it isnt at a budget price, but I dont regret having done so. Wagner's original German language opera sung in English might seem more like a novelty recording (or a horrifying experience to hardcore Wagner fans) than a serious approach to the music, but surprisingly it works (for the most part). For the listener who doesn't speak and understand German this is a great way to understand Wagner's opera, as the connection between text and drama is made clearer--though I sometimes wish the singers diction and pronunciation were a bit clearer--but hey, its still opera and a complete English only libretto is included (along with a scene by scene summary of the drama, a summary of the preceding two operas, and an essay and photos of this particular project). Overall the orchestra and conducting is up to par and the sound is clear, balanced, and spacious, the only annoying thing being the audience clapping after the end of each act--its a live 1975 recording. While this is no substitute for the original in German, think of it as a great resource ... to understanding Wagner's opera cycle for listeners without the time or inclination to learn German.

Average customer rating: Better for small kids CD won't play in player (CD-R?) KING OF THE JUNGLE!! The BEST KID'S SONG EVER! SUPER! Kids LOVE it! Great for Worship!!

Worship Rock 2 for Kids (Rare) Manufacturer: Nilsson Media ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rock The Word! From the Creators of Scripture Rock Scripture Rock Worship Jamz Worship Rock 1 CD (Rare) Worship Jamz 2 ASIN: B000067G1N Release Date: 2002-05-06

Album Description

More cutting-edge worshipful fun like Worship Rock 1, but geared for 2-10 year olds.

Irresistable songs in a variety of fun rock styles for all ages, played with passion by real, world-famous live band members from D.C. Talk, Stephen Curtis Chapman, & Michael W. Smith. Disc 1 has more sophisticated songs which appeal to all ages, including kids and teens. Vol.2 is for pre-teens.

Customer Reviews:

Better for small kids.......2006-08-06

I ordered this CD and also Worchip Jamz 2 for my kids, but this CD would be much more appropriate for preschool age kids than older (my youngest is 11.)
It's wonderful music for the younger set! Very inspired.

CD won't play in player (CD-R?).......2004-04-07

This CD and another by the same artist will not play in my CD player which doesn't read CD-R's. When I play it in a boom box it will work. The songs just don't appeal to my children or our youth group. The song lyrics are well written but the tunes themselves are not catchy to the kids. They seem to like Colin Buchannan's Aussie Praise collection much better. Amazon doesn't sell it but cbd.com does. Great Effort though by this couple.

KING OF THE JUNGLE!! The BEST KID'S SONG EVER!.......2002-10-28

All the songs on this CD are creative and wonderful.
The BEST one is KING OF THE JUNGLE!!
It can't be beat. If you don't have it, get it.

SUPER! Kids LOVE it!.......2002-07-25

This is my favorite record for very young kids who want to bounce around innocently while singing about God. It's very colorful and creative.

Great for Worship!!.......2002-05-22

What a great album for getting in an upbeat worship frame of mind. I have used the whole Worship Rock series with the young kids and youth at my church and they love them all! I highly recomend all of the Worship Rock collection.

Average customer rating:

Red Hot (From Mystic Music, As Seen On TV) Crowded House , Level 42 , Rick Astley , Sheriff , Billy Ocean , Pat Benatar , Eddie Money & Ronnie Spector , Robert Palmer , Sheena Easton , and The Power Station Manufacturer: Mystic Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000MZSVMC

Product Description

MYSTIC MUSIC Presents RED HOT. AS SEEN ON T.V. Disc 1 1. SOMETHING SO STRONG CROWDED HOUSE 2. OBSESSION ANIMOTION 3. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU LEVEL 42 4. IS THIS LOVE WHITESNAKE 5. EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN POISON 6. ALL I NEED JACK WAGNER 7. MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY ALIAS 8. SOME LIKE IT HOT THE POWER STATION 9. TOUCH ME (I WANT YOUR BODY) SAMANTHA FOX 10. NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP RICK ASTLEY 11. TOUCH ME CATHY DENNIS 12. NEED YOU TONIGHT INXS 13. THE FLAME CHEAP TRICK 14. BLACK VELVET ALLANAH MYLES 15. SAVE YOUR LOVE GREAT WHITE 16. WHEN I'M WITH YOU SHERIFF 17. CAN'T STOP AFTER 7 18. ADDICTED TO LOVE ROBERT PALMER DISC 2 1. FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE BAD COMPANY 2. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS FOREIGNER 3. SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER THE MOTELS 4. TOO SHY KAJAGOOGOO 5. SHATTERED DREAMS JOHNNY HATES JAZZ 6. WE BELONG PAT BENATAR 7. CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN) BILLY OCEAN 8. I GET WEAK BELINDA CARLISLE 9. TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT / BE MY BABY EDDIE MONEY WITH RONNIE SPECTOR 10. HOLD ON TO THE NIGHT RICHARD MARX 11. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART ROXETTE 12. MISSING YOU JOHN WAITE 13. I TOUCH MYSELF DIVINYLS 14. SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE ROBERT PALMER 15. SUGAR WALLS SHEENA EASTON 16. I CAN DREAM ABOUT YOU DAN HARTMAN 17. FREEWAY OF LOVE ARETHA FRANKLIN

Average customer rating:

The Joy of God - Great Hymns Across the Ages William P. Rowlands , Gordon Slater , John Stainer , Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church , Ronald S. Jordan , Katherine Hill , Christopher Edwards , and Thomas Campbell Manufacturer: Marquis Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Vaughan Williams, Ralph | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vaughan Williams, Ralph | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hymns Triumphant 1 & 2 ASIN: B000003WHH Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

1. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Psalm 117: Plainsong, Tone I:1
2. Great Hymns Across The Ages: When Morning Gilds The Skies
3. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Jesu, The Very Thought Of Thee
4. Great Hymns Across The Ages: O Jesus, I Have Promised
5. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Fairest Lord Jesus
6. Rheinhardt Manuscripts: Worship The Lord
7. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
8. Book Of Common Prayer: Psalm 121
9. Greek Liturgy Of St. James: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
10. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Let Us Break Bread
11. Great Hymns Across The Ages: And Can It Be
12. Great Hymns Across The Ages: When All Thy Mercies, O My God
13. Psalterium Chorale', Constance: Creator Of The Earth And Skies
14. Great Hymns Across The Ages: I Need Thee Every Hour
15. Geistliche Seelenfreud: My God, My Father, Make Me Strong
16. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
17. Great Hymns Across The Ages: In The Cross Of Christ I Glory
18. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Low In The Grave He Lay
19. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Crown Him With Many Crowns
20. Great Hymns Across The Ages: This Is My Father's World
21. Great Hymns Across The Ages: Lead, Kindly Light
22. Great Hymns Across The Ages: I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say
23. Great Hymns Across The Ages: God, That Madest Earth And Heaven
24. Te Lucis, Mode VIII: Before The Ending Of The Day

Average customer rating: Angels from heaven Hymn singing as it should be

Favourite Hymns Manufacturer: Griffin (Qualiton) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Monk, William Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Westminster Abbey Choir | ( W ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral Abide With Me Favourite Hymns from Wells Cathedral Be Still My Soul: The Ultimate Hymns Collection A Vaughan Williams Hymnal ASIN: B00004W1JA Release Date: 2000-07-25

Customer Reviews:

Angels from heaven.......2002-12-12

This album is fantastic..you get what ever you were looking for all at one glance..

Hymn singing as it should be.......2002-01-17

This is a very fine recital drawn from the core of the church and cathedral choir repertoire. Martin Neary proves here (perhaps more convincingly than anyone else) that a good hymn can be just as magical as a through-composed anthem for choir alone, and that the repetition of a single tune over verse after verse need not be a dull experience.

The hymns and tunes selected are indeed among the best-loved works in English church music. "O God, our help in ages past," "Love Divine," "Eternal Father, strong to save," "Be thou my vision," "Guide me, O thou great Redeemer" and the eventide chestnuts "Abide with me" and "The day thou gavest" are all bound to be the most recognisable even to those who are not regular churchgoers. Some of the Victorian composers have immortalised the cream of their talent in such hymns as "The King of Love my shepherd is" and "O thou, who camest from above." Purcell's tune "Westminster Abbey" - extracted from his anthem "O God, thou art my God" and set to the words "Christ is made the sure foundation" - shows how a stroke of inspiration of long ago can survive endless musical change by being adapted and absorbed into hymnody. Another adapted work is Hubert Parry's hymn "O Praise ye the Lord," actually the final part of an extended anthem ("Hear my words, ye people") and is presented on this disc in its original form, making for an interesting and refreshing change to the repetitive verses of the rest of the collection. Completing the programme are settings that fall more definitely outside of the realms of congregational singing: the powerful "Kontakion of the Dead" to an ancient tune and harmonisation from Kiev; the moving Air from County Derry set to the verse "I would be true" for unaccompanied boys voices (as sung by these very choristers at the Funeral of Princess Diana in 1997); Martin Neary's little tune "Studland" written for the blessing "May the Grace of Christ our Saviour;" his lovely arrangement of Sebastian Temple's "Make me a channel of your peace" (also sung at the Diana funeral) is here as well. Each item is a gem in its own right.

In this performance, each gem is polished to a high standard. Contrast is effectively made by the use of subtly different forces for different verses - there is an appropriate use of boisterous tenors and basses in "O worship the King" at the verse "O tell of his might," and a plethora of soul-stirring unaccompanied verses, particularly in "Praise to the Holiest in the Height." (I would challenge anybody to find a more moving moment in hymnody, achieved with such utter simplicity, than the performance of "And in the garden secretly, and on the Cross on high, should teach his brethren, and inspire to suffer and to die" as it is on this disc.) This is not to say that Martin Baker's accompaniments are not another wonderful element in the performance: for instance, his clever doubling of the tune at a low octave in "Who would true valour see" for the words "No lion can him fright; he'll with a giant fight." On the subject of words, every single one is treated with care and attention to its meaning, individually and in context - the ensemble is finely honed and the enunciation is immaculate. Martin Neary draws every ounce of poetical significance from the words in these hymns, making real sense of them and allow them to speak as music, not simply as long lines of verse to get through as quickly as possible (which is often the problem arising with hymn singing in many churches today). As a finishing touch, several hymns have descants and alternative harmonisations, many of them supplied by Neary, who knows how to make them effective, stunning and highly original. An ensemble of trumpets and drums joins the Abbey Choir and organ for the performance of "All people that on earth do dwell" in the festive arrangement by Vaughan Williams - this is as stirring as many of the other hymns are moving.

This collection is a sample of hymnody that (in my humble opinion) far outweighs others I have encountered. There's a certain joy in listening to these performances - a joy that somehow remains fresh on repeated hearings. An inspired and inspirational programme: most warmly recommended!

Average customer rating: A Rose By Any Other Name... "Thus I salute the stronghold, safe from dread and dismay! Free at last! I Love This Recording The Goodall Ring - 1975 - Restored and Remastered

Wagner: The Rhinegold English National Opera Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) Wagner: The Valkyrie ASIN: B00005B550 Release Date: 2001-05-22

Customer Reviews:

A Rose By Any Other Name..........2007-07-02

The figure of speach may not be completely correct in this instance, but, well, I hope you get the point. In any case, for a Dutch speaking person, like I, to hear 'The Ring' in a language other than the original German feels - almost shockingly(?) - natural. Certainly, this modern English translation, to me, is as least immediate, and probably even more immediate, than the original (archaic) German text. And in music drama, immediacy is essential. Maybe it is also the wonderfully natural translation, I don't know, but it works for me, the Ring in English.
But most of the credit has to go to the music, the singers, and the recording as such. I believe that this (originally analogue) remastered recording has one of the best recorded sounds and acoustics of any Ring, studio or 'live'. It is wonderfully clear but warm, kind of velvety (very unlike Solti), with beautifully natural balaces between voices and orchestra. Audience noises can be heard (including a delightful little ripple of laughter) but never really obtrusively so, thankfully. And I love the thunderclap-sound effect when Donner strikes his hammer against the rocks - very tastefully done, and lending extra power to the scene.
All the time one reads in reviews everywhere of the very slow speads at which the music is conducted by Sir Reginald Goodall. Well, that may be so, but I, for one, am certainly endeared to Sir Reginald Goodalls 'caressing' of the music, as a result of which wich the Leitmotifs come out more clearly than ever. The slow - but nonetheless very concentrated, and always involved - playing has, to me, an almost mesmerizing effect. Certainly, compared to many other recordings, the music may sound stretched almost beyond breaking point. But in the end, I think it is really just that: a matter of speed, no more. The concentration never falters and the dramatic arc never saggs. There is live 'music magic' going on here, I feel, even if the English National Opera Orchestra may not be (as precise or as diciplined as) a Wiener Philharmoniker or a Bayreuther Festspielorchester. Certainly, Sir Reginald Goodall must have loved this music and these opera's: one feels a slowly beating but constant loving pulse that energizes the drama and the music.
But we also have the singers. And what a great singers! While the best may be yet to come (with Alberto Remedios as Siegmund and Siegfried, and Rita Hunter as Brunnhilde), we here, in The Rhinegold, already have one of the most commanding of Wotans (Norman Bailey, with wonderful burnished timbre). Also, Emile Belcourt stands out as a wonderfully sleek but full-voiced Loge. Derek Hammond-Stroud's Alberich may not be as black as Gunther von Kannen's (for Barenboim), for example, but there is enough anguish, frustration and anger to lend his character a convincing reality and depth. And the giants too, are a winning pair. Especially Fafner (Clifford Grant) is as imposing and powerful as one may ever wish.
With all the rave reviews, here and elsewhere I can't wait to hear The Valkyrie, (especially) Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods. This certainly is a winning 'Ring', to be kept alongside any other 'great' recorded 'Ring' out there, IMHO. To me, it can hold its own alongside any other favorite recordings.
Please, sample this Ring (try for example the Chandos website for fragments of all of the music) and decide for yourself. Highly recommended.

"Thus I salute the stronghold, safe from dread and dismay!.......2007-06-12

Okay, so we have the Solti, Bohm, Karajan, Goodall, Boulez, Janowski, Levine, Haitink, and Sawallisch Rings on the market (I haven't listened to the other Ring recordings yet, sorry to say). And all of these leave me to one conclusion: the many differences lead me to believe that all of these ring sets have their own authenticities and setbacks. And here they are:

TIMING (Estimate):
Solti's Ring: 14 hours, 30 minutes
Bohm's Ring: 13 hours, 30 minutes
Karajan's Ring: 14 hours, 50 minutes
Goodall's Ring: 16 hours, 50 minutes
Boulez's Ring: 13 hours, 40 minutes
Janowski's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes
Levine's Ring: 15 hours, 20 minutes
Haitink's Ring: 14 hours, 10 minutes
Sawallisch's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes

CONDUCTING:
Solti: Solti's conducting is driven with sheer muscle, but sometimes he makes the Ring overemotional. His Walkure & Gotterdammerung Preludes are clear examples: they're annoyingly bombastic. Nonetheless he almost seldom loses control with anything. His clear focus on the drama is astonishing.

Bohm: I must say his live Bayreuth recording brings out some of the best. He puts more faith in the orchestral score, but he also gives it more intensity. His tempi are some of the quickest, but they still don't seem rushed at all (except maybe "Wohin schleich'st du eilig und schlau"). I especially like his "Forging Scene" & "Hagen Summons the Vassals"; both are the most energetic on disc.

Karajan: Karajan's chamber approach is very interesting. Instead of going for the drama or the energy, the conductor goes for the beauty. Almost everything in his Ring sounds very ethereal because of his excessive use of lyricism. His orchestral preludes (except Walkure Act 1) sound more beautiful than others, and much of the soft parts (such as Siegfried Act Three Scene Three) are controlled nicely. His "Funeral March" and "Immolation" are recommendable. Siegfried Act Three Scene Two could have improved with more tension.

Goodall: Oh, boy. While I do praise Goodall with his amazing attention to detail, his ridiculously sluggish tempi will tick some Wagnerites off: nothing is faster than andante. But I did enjoy listening to the slow beauty of his "Wotan's Farewell/Magic Fire Music". This was recorded live and sung in English.

Boulez: Here it is, folks - the controversial Centennial Ring. To fit the Ring Cycle in the industrial age, Boulez gives it a very Schoenbergian, Bartokian atmosphere. Much of his tempi are very quick, very Bohm-like, though they're still not as fast as Bohm. Keep in mind, though, this live Ring works only if you hear AND see it (the DVD's work best).

Janowski: This is a very classical Ring. Instead of bombast, spacious, or lyrical passion, maestro Janowski gives us the straightforward approach. He goes straight for Wagner's original intentions (precise tempi, dynamics, flow of leitmotivs, etc.), which makes this another exquisite Ring. "Hagen Summons the Vassals" is probably the fastest I've ever heard (along with Sawallisch's). Rheingold Scene Four can be best described as "sensational".

Levine: While he does stay true to the score like Bohm, this conductor makes for a somewhat dull Ring. His handling of the orchestra is nice, but the moderately slow tempi he chooses is flawed. It should be more animated. His beautiful "Funeral March" and "Erda's Warning" are two of the few flawless features.

Haitink: This might be seen as a disappointment. If you want great conducting, then this is for you. If you want a persuasive array of singers, look somewhere else. Haitink's conducting saves this work from being a total flop. There is nothing quite like his Rheingold & Gotterdammerung ("Siegfried's Rhine Journey" is a bit forced, but magnificent nonetheless).

Sawallisch: I guess you can say that Sawallisch is half-Karajan, half-Janowski. While he does stay true to the orchestral score like Janowski, he also puts in a little Karajan-like lyricism. At some points he loses track with orchestra and singers (as does every live recording) but Bohm has more control. This was also recorded live.

ORCHESTRA:
Solti's Vienna Philharmonic: The woodwinds are the most beautiful in Solti's Ring (the "Forest Murmurs" is clear evidence of that). French horns and Wagner tubas make this a recommended listening. The strings in "Heda Heda Hedo" could've added a bit more work, but they are strikingly spectacular everywhere else. The orchestra gives it their all in Siegfried Act Two & Three, but they are at their weakest in Walkure Act One & Three (Bohm's Bayreuth does it better). Overall, it's the loudest and certainly most bombastic out of all the Ring orchestras combined.

Bohm's Bayreuth Festival: The ultimate Wagnerian orchestra gives it their all. The brass both high and low are the most powerful, while the woodwinds are the most delicate. The strings are muffled only a few times, otherwise the eighteen anvils are perfectly loud and clear. Erda's scenes aren't as effective as Janowski's, but the entire Walkure is more successful than Janowski's when it comes to tone & technique. Overall, this orchestra is the most dramatic.

Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic: The entire orchestra sounds polished, not to say that it is bad. Indeed the drama is still there, but much of the suspense is lacking (the scenes with Fasolt and Fafner come to mind). The brass sometimes overpowers the strings, which can be a serious problem. Gotterdammerung "Three Norns" Scene sounds very mysterious, very eerie.

Goodall's English National Opera: This orchestra sounds nice, even if the sluggishness can bring them down at times. The Flight of the Valkyries doesn't sound too good in a slow tempo, but the entire orchestra does sound lucid here. Siegfried Act Two Prelude is the creepiest. All of the leitmotivs are heard loud and clear, just like in Janowski's version.

Boulez's Bayreuth Festival: While it doesn't really pack the same punches as Bohm's Bayreuth, it still delivers a stunning performance. Orchestral interaction between characters (Ex. Siegfried's motifs mixed in with Mime's motifs) fares better than Berlin's and English National's. Rhine maiden motifs are given more wit, while the Dragon motifs are played with less eeriness. Beauty makes up for the irritatingly quick "Wotan's Farewell".

Janowski's Staatskapelle Dresden: This orchestra has the same force & flair as does Boulez's Bayreuth Festival, only Dresden sounds much clearer due to the fantastic digital sound. Even minor details are heard clear in this Ring. The strings imitate the Siegfried forest very well, while the woodwinds representing the songbird are wonderful (but not as wonderful as Solti's songbird). Dresden's "Magic Fire Music" (along with Berlin's) is the most extravagant.

Levine's Metropolitan Opera: The brass and woodwinds are the true stars. The strings sound too tired to continue on in Siegfried & Gotterdammerung. The Finale to Rheingold is absolutely stunning (the trumpets and trombones will not disappoint), and the Second Act of Walkure is the most impressive, the most refined.

Haitink's Bavarian Radio Symphony: This may very well be like Metropolitan, only this sounds much more poignant. The strings sound better and the percussion sound clearer. The leitmotivs are almost never screwed up. First scene of Rheingold will take one's breath away.

Sawallisch's Bavarian State: Wrong notes in this live recording won't matter, as the entire orchestra gets everything going in all four nights at the opera. The strings never surrender to imperfection, and the winds are marvelously aligned. I just wish that some of the singers would keep up with the orchestra.

SINGERS:
-Wotan
Solti: Hans Hotter is the superior Wotan. He sounds powerful throughout the Ring (except Rheingold, in which a less stellar George London performs).

Bohm and Janowski: Theo Adam in Bohm's live recording is another treat. While he is not as equally impressive as Hotter, he can certainly conjure up everlasting emotions. Adam sounds weaker in Janowski's studio recording, but he still doesn't disappoint.

Karajan: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau plays Wotan in "Rheingold," while Thomas Stewart replaces Fischer-Dieskau in "Walkure" and "Siegfried". I don't think Fischer-Dieskau was a good choice; he sounds too humane and too light. Stewart makes an astounding improvement in both "Walkure" and "Siegfried".

Goodall: Norman Bailey has that divine spark that Hotter used to cherish. He's heavy and unblemished, and he handles the English text with flair and sheen.

Boulez: If you watch Donald McIntyre on the Centennial Ring production, then you can tell that he's a fine "industrial" Wotan. If you just hear him on CD, then you'll be disappointed. His diction is weak, his emotions are forced, and his voice sounds robotic. The DVD's will do.

Levine and Haitink: James Morris is a notch below Hotter, Adam, and Bailey, but he overpowers Fischer-Dieskau pretty much throughout the Levine's and Haitink's Ring.

Sawallisch: I may be biased, but Robert Hale just didn't do it for me. He sounded dull and tedious, and his Wotan's Farewell wasn't enough to sadden me.

-Brunnhilde
Solti and Bohm: Birgit Nilsson is the best Brunnhilde on the market. Her Valkyrie cry is delightful, and her final scene in Gotterdammerung is brilliant beyond belief.

Karajan: Regine Crespin is without a doubt one of the finest Brunnhildes after Nilsson. She's fantastic in Walkure Act Three. I just wish she stayed on as the Valkyrie later on in the Ring (Helga Dernesch is no good in Gotterdammerung, sorry to say).

Goodall: Rita Hunter is at her strongest in Walkure and Siegfried. She is at her weakest in Gotterdammerung. What may have caused her downfall in the fourth installment? "The world may never know."

Boulez: How can anyone not be impressed by the Brunnhilde of Gwyneth Jones? One can almost feel her excitement during Siegfried Act Three, and her fear in Walkure Act Three. Her weakest point is probably during her Gotterdammerung Prologue (a bit too stressed).

Janowski: Jeannine Altmeyer is basically the most controversial Brunnhilde on CD. Some people say that she's too light and weak, while others say she sounds young and very enchanting. I'm with those who think Altmeyer was a good choice, but you yourself (the shopper) are going to have to decide whether she's good or not.

Levine and Sawallisch: Hildegard Behrens is just like Nilsson and Crespin: while she's not the best, she is definitely another perfect Brunnhilde of choice. She's at her most dazzling when she performs Walkure (Levine) and Siegfried (Sawallisch).

Haitink: Hmph. I was hoping that Eva Marton would do well here. I was seriously let down by her strained singing. She does okay in "Annunciation of Death", but she is at her worst in "Immolation".

-Siegmund & Sieglinde
Let's see. For the Siegmunds, we have James King for Solti and Bohm, Jon Vickers for Karajan, Alberto Remedios for Goodall, Peter Hoffman for Boulez, Siegfried Jerusalem for Janowski, Gary Lakes for Levine, Reiner Goldberg for Haitink, and Robert Schunk for Sawallisch. For the Sieglindes, we have Regine Crespin for Solti, Leonie Rysanek for Bohm, Gundula Janowitz for Karajan, Margaret Curphy for Goodall, Jeanine Altmeyer for Boulez, Jessye Norman for both Janowski and Levine, Cheryl Studer for Haitink, and Julia Varady for Sawallisch. Hmm . . . Jerusalem is good . . . and so is Vickers . . . Janowitz is charming, and so is . . . Oh, what the heck? All the singers for Siegmund and Sieglinde are fantastic. Three exceptions, though: Goldberg and Schunk don't sound heroic enough, and Norman for Levine doesn't sound young and innocent enough.

-Siegfried
Solti and Bohm: Wolfgang Windgassen may very well be the best Siegfried for the ages. His `Forging Scene" in both renditions are defiantly inspiring. His last scene in Gotterdammerung is celestial and overwhelming.

Karajan: Jess Thomas (Siegfried) and Helge Brilioth (Gotterdammerung) may not be as ideal as Windgassen, but they do know how to be a magnificent heldentenor. Thomas pulls it off with Act One and Three.

Goodall: Wow! What a singer that Alberto Remedios! He never drags in either of the last two installments, and he uses the correct emotions in every scene that he is in.

Boulez: Is Manfred Jung a good tenor? Yes. Is he a good Heldentenor? NO. He doesn't have that heroic voice like Windgassen and Remedios. Again, the DVD's are your safest bet.

Janowski and Sawallisch: Rene Kollo's Siegfried is a poetically expressive one. In Janowski's version he sounds playful when he's in Mime's home, and he sounds willed when he's in the Gibich Hall. He is not good enough in Sawallisch's version, however. His tiresome "Forging Scene" is obvious evidence of that.

Levine: Oh, Reiner Goldberg. At least you tried. Seriously, he sounds too tedious (especially in Gotterdammerung Act Three Scene Two) and too old. Levine should've chose Kollo or Jerusalem when he recorded his studio Ring.

Haitink: Have you ever seen Siegfried Jerusalem on the Levine/Metropolitan DVD? Well, here he is again, and this time, he sings with more valor and enthusiasm. Bravo!

-Alberich
Solti and Bohm: Gustav Niedlinger has a heaviness that overwhelms a few other baritones. When he sings his only sequence in Gotterdammerung Act Two Scene One, his emotion is so pure that his son Hagen would've drowned himself in tears (Too melodramatic? Sorry about that.). The only problem is that his character sounds too one-dimensional. Alberich isn't just some cardboard-cutout bad guy. He has a very good reason why he wants to take revenge on the world. Overall, Niedlinger is amazing throughout Wagner's Ring (He deserves many awards for "Bin ich nun frei?").

Karajan: I guess you can say that Zoltan Kelemen tries his best throughout. He is not good in Rheingold, but he gets better in Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.

Goodall: Derek Hammond-Stroud is three-dimensional, but not that much. Still, he can sound very demanding in Rheingold Scene One and Siegfried Act Two Scene One.

Boulez: What we have here is the weak Alberich of Hermann Becht. When he's in Nibelheim, the authority isn't there. When he's in the Neid-Hohle forest, the creepiness isn't there. And when he's near the Gibich house, the misery isn't there. Even on DVD he's unsatisfactory.

Janowski: Siegmund Nimsgern may be the most humane Alberich yet, but it's all good. He sings with more passion than Kelemen and more robustness than Hammond-Stroud. Niedlinger's ferociousness puts him below, however. "Schaf'st du, Hagen, mein sohn?" is noteworthy.

Levine and Sawallisch: Ekkehard Wlaschiha is one hell of a vigorous Alberich. I praise him in Rheingold Scene One and Three. His performance in Siegfried (both versions) could've improved with more distrustfulness towards Mime and the Wanderer.

Haitink: No offense, but Theo Adam as Alberich? Come on . . .

-Mime
Solti and Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is the creepiest Mime ever known to humankind. This dwarf outsings other Mimes on the market. When he sings "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" his anger and fear is the most effective to almost all Ring listeners.

Bohm: Erwin Wohlfahrt wins second place. He gives a first-rate performance in Siegfried Act One, but loses some of his edge in Act Two. He is an exceptional Mime nonetheless. Look for him in Karajan's Rheingold, also.

Goodall: Gregory Dempsey isn't emotional enough. He doesn't sound fearful or depressed at all, which makes him the dullest Mime for the Ring.

Boulez and Levine: Heinz Zednik is yet another excellent Mime, VERY fun to listen to. There is much humor and eccentricity in his voice, and that's what makes his dwarf much more compelling than Dempsey's dwarf. His performance in Rheingold Scene Three is pure gold, while his performance in Siegfried (particularly "Willkommen, Siegfried!") is a stunning achievement.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is for Siegfried, while Christian Vogel is for Rheingold. Vogel is less than perfect, while Schreier is way beyond outstanding. Schreier is less ghoulish and more benevolent, more three-dimensional than Stolze and Wohlfahrt. He is equal to Zednik when it comes to humaneness and lyricism. The only flaw I can find is his handling of "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" He could've added a bit more fear in that sequence.

Haitink: Peter Haage sounds like he's entertaining young kids. His version of Mime is a bit childish, and the dark humor that the dwarf brings out sounds-over-the-top here. Nonetheless, he is still entertaining to listen to ("Wer halfe mir?" has never sounded better).

Sawallisch: Helmut Pampuch is just like Schreier and Zednik: he's very VERY good. Nuff said.

-Loge
Solti: Set Svanholm may be the weakest Loge. He is not very ominous throughout all of his scenes, and his lack of a sinister atmosphere is greatly affects the entire Rheingold. But he'll soon be forgotten later on during the Trilogy.

Bohm: Why the heck would the conductor have Wolfgang Windgassen play both Siegfried AND Loge? The demi-god needs to sound different from a son of a Walsung. Again, another Loge that's marred by lack of cunning.

Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is easily the most entertaining Loge to listen to. He has the wit, the craftiness, and the untrustworthiness that the character deserves. His scenes in Scene Three are delightful.

Goodall: Emile Belcourt isn't as good as Stolze, but he certainly can make some of the best of an English-speaking Loge.

Boulez and Haitink: I can summon Heinz Zednik's performance in just three words: Brilliant Beyond Belief!

Janowski: Peter Schreier is the most eccentric out of all of them, and that's a fact. Much of his singing involves imagination, peril, vengeance, and deviousness. Belcourt and Zednik depend only on vengeance and deviousness, Stolze only imagination and deviousness, Windgassen and Svanholm only peril. His odd conversations with Alberich and the gods/goddesses are classic.

Levine: Siegfried Jerusalem doesn't seem like a good choice for Loge. He's better off playing Siegmund or Siegfried, but not a demi-god.

Sawallisch: Robert Tear is on par with Stolze and Zednik. Sometimes he takes things too low, but all is forgiven with his management of character development.

-Everyone Else
Uh-huh, what can I say? Everyone else does a good job in all Ring recordings. Matti Salminen is the perfect Hagen (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch), while Kirsten Flagstad is the most brilliant Fricka (Solti). Anja Silja is the most memorable Freia (Bohm), while Kurt Moll makes the most fabulous Hunding yet (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch). The Norns and Rheinmaidens do a splendid job in Solti, Janowski, and Levine. The Vassals (male choir) are at their unsurpassed in Bohm, Goodall, and Boulez. The only flawed Erda is Anne Collins (Goodall), maybe too light and too heavy at times. All in all, no one here is graded C or lower.

CONCLUSION: I have yet to listen to Barenboim's Bayreuth presentation, Neuhold's Badische version, and the essential mono recordings (Furtwangler, Krauss, etc.), but I'm pretty sure that have their advantages and disadvantages. So there you have it. We have the histrionic Solti, the energetic Bohm, the otherworldly Karajan, the spacious Goodall, the industrialized Boulez, the truthful Janowski, the unhurried Levine, the abnormal Haitink, and the serious Sawallisch Rings. They have their own authenticities and setbacks, and they certainly have their own significances for Ring listeners everywhere.

The Box Set: Wagner: The Ring Cycle (Box Set)
-The Valkyrie (Part 2): Wagner: The Valkyrie
-Siegfried (Part 3): Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)
-Twilight of the Gods (Part 4): The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)

Free at last!.......2004-09-18

I've enjoyed listening to the Ring cycles by Solti, Bohm, and Furtwangler, but my pleasure has always been dampened by the necessity to follow the dramas with a German/English libretto. This performance freed me from that burden and allowed me to listen to the Ring with my ears alone for the first time. And what a delightful experience it was! I found I could understand about half the words the first time through. but that was enough for me to understand what the characters were saying and concentrate on Wagner's great music. Some of the characters (Loge and Alberich, for example) are almost perfectly comprehensible, while others (Fricka in particular) might as well be singing in German. The sound itself is superb, with perfect balances between orchestra and voices. Goodall's conducting is famously slow (about half an hour longer than usual), but he is never slack and he reveals a wealth of detail in the orchestration. The singers are a mixed lot, with Loge, Alberich, and Mime particularly effective. Bailey is hardly the grandest of Wotans, but he is solid and convincing. In any event, for us non-German listeners, this recording is a real treat. I would not recommend it as a first Ring (Bohm is a good choice, though some of his tempi are rather hectic), but as a supplement to a recoding in the original language, it is hard to beat. Give it a try! As for me, I'm ready to go on to "Die Walkure" (pardon me, "The Valkyrie").

I Love This Recording.......2002-04-05

I was a little suspicious when approaching this English-language version of Das Rhinegold. I was considering assembling this as my third RING set (behind Solti and Levine) and had listened to THE VALKYRIE (Die Walkure) with a little initial disappointment. Although the live sound quality was very interesting, the tempo was much slower than I was used to and thus a little disconcerting, and the English words were harder to understand than I had hoped. Nevertheless, I persevered and listended to THE RHINEGOLD (probably my favorite of the four RING operas, although I know this puts me in a minority) and was amazed. Best of all, after listening to this album I revisited the Goodall VALKYRIE and discovered a new appreciation! Now the Goodall set ranks as one of the best I've heard. It just needed to get under my skin a bit.

What's so good about it? Three things stand out for me: First, the slow tempi that were a litle rough at first actually allow, upon repeated listenings, a new discovery and understanding of Wagner's unfathomable genius. Every nuance is slowed down just enough to be fully accessible. Second, the modern English translation really does make this a different experience...my initial mistake was thinking that English lyrics could allow me to listen to this as background music, and that's not the case. However, if one devotes the same attention to this as a German recording, the time wil be richly rewarded. Finally, the smaller orchestra creates an almost chamber music-esque setting, which compliments the music in an undefinable way. Despite being in English, this is almost more Germanic than original-language recordings.

I still probably wouldn't get this as the first foray into Wagner's RING (I still think Solti or Levine are the choices for that). But for someone who already has some familiarity with the work, this will provide a lifetime's enjoyment. Cudos to Chandos for resurrecting these recordings!

The Goodall Ring - 1975 - Restored and Remastered.......2001-06-08

I have been curious about this for years. When I saw the packaging, I wondered whether this was the same Ring that has been kicking around for a couple of decades from the Sadler's Wells performances of the mid-70s. News flash: It's the same. However, the box says that it's been re-mastered with something called 24-bit digital mastering. Since I never heard the old records, I have no idea if this is better. Judged on its own, the sound is terrific. This live recording really places the listener in the theater with clarity and authentic spaciousness. So often, a live recording will capture the audience up close, then the orchestra, then the singers, cataloguing every throat being cleared and every bow being tapped. Somewhere in the distance, the singers voices follow their heavy tread over the stage. Not here. There is an intimacy to the sound here that approximates sitting in about the tenth row back in a large hall. It doesn't sound like the opera's being played in your room; it sounds as though your room has been transformed into a medium sized theater. I found it uncanny.

As to the experience of the drama in English, that too is remarkable, at least for someone like me whose home-tongue is English. The drama takes on an immediacy that I have never experienced before. This factor alone is why you should explore this Ring. I can't overemphasize the impact on me that this recording had on me because it was in English and because it was well-acted. Surely this is what Wagner meant, at least dramaturgically (obviously allowing that you can't actually see the action).

Overall, the singing is competent, and in some places, it's excellent. None of the cast really stands out musically. Norman Bailey's wobbly Wotan could have certainly benefitted from a deeper, richer tone. Still, and perhaps more importantly, he creates a god who is clearly unsure of where the moral highground is, even when he's standing on "an open space on a mountain summit." Everyone, for that matter, is dramatically convincing, especially Emile Belcourt (Loge) and Derek Hammond-Stroud (Alberich) and Robert Lloyd (Fasolt), all of whom, by the way, have excellent diction. And speaking of diction, I almost could have done without the libretto when the men were singing. Not so with the women, whose diction was uniformly wanting.

Goodall's pace is notoriously glacial. Still, it's interesting to hear it parsed in this way, and I never had the feeling that I was going to fall off the world. Which is to say that the tempos were deliberate, not affected. This was definitely a labor of love for RG and the English National Opera. The orchestra is a little thin sounding, and perhaps, not entirely up to the score. Occasionally a horn mis-blew and a cello creaked. This is unavoidable in live performances, I suppose. Still, there is a surprising sense of smallness to the ensemble, even though there's never a moment when the balance between singers and players is lost. As a result, the overall effect is a balance of clarity and urgency that is clearly the upside of Goodall's idiosyncratic "vision" of the score. Not a huge or "erotic" sound, but always committed, intelligent, and sometimes impassioned.

For all of its flaws, this is an astonishing and, for me, an indispensible recording because it made me listen to this opera with new ears. While it's not the most lyrically pleasing recording (Karajan) or musically authoritative (that would be Solti, IMHO), dramatically, this Rhinegold excells any recording I know of. I will definitely buy the rest of the set.

Dance Music:

1. Bigger and Deffer [Clean]
2. Can't Nobody Hold Me Down [CD-single] [Clean]
3. Can't Nobody Hold Me Down [CD-single] [Explicit Lyrics]
4. Chillin' on the Westside [EP] [CD-single]
5. CM Cornelius Mix [EP] [Import]
6. Come on Everybody [CD-single]
7. Controlled Substance [Explicit Lyrics]
8. Do It Tam Tam
9. Doc's the Name (Clean) [Clean]
10. Don't Know Yet

Dance Music

dance music

Dance Music

Somewhere Out There [CD-single] [Import]

Albéniz: Piano Sonatas

A-Collection [Import]

The Best of Play Bach (Multichannel Hybrid SACD) [Hybrid SACD]

Artistic Vice

A Night to Remember [Import]

A Chorus Line (1975 Original Broadway Cast) (Multichannel/Stereo) [Cast Recording] [SACD]

All Night

1978 [Import] [Original recording remastered]

A Beethoven Trilogy: The Last Three Sonatas, Opp. 109, 110 & 111

A Box of Birds

Alien Love Secrets [Import]

14 Exitos De Oro

No Questions

Boston T Party